Bush merging church, state

In the second week of his presidency, Bush disclosed plans for a "faith-based" initiative that would promote federal aid to religious groups that provide social services. Part of Bush's plan involves redirecting tax money from secular social service groups to religious ones. While Bush adamantly pursues the initiative, he's encountering opposition from critics, including religious leaders and members of Congress, who cite the problems concerning the separation of church and state and religious liberty.\nOne particularly troubling consequence of Bush's initiative is religious discrimination within federally funded organizations. Religious groups are free to discriminate in hiring on the grounds of the religious affiliations of their applicants. Under Bush's plan, these same groups would receive federal funding. \nIn a report on the issue, Americans United for Separation of Church and State commented, "Just imagine: your money pays for a job that you can't have because of your religious beliefs. That's not compassionate conservatism; that's outrageous." Subsidizing religious discrimination with tax money is a gross distortion of government aid.\nBush's faith-based initiative has sparked criticism from many religious groups. The United Methodist Church, the country's second-largest Protestant denomination, has expressed opposition toward the "charitable choice" provisions of Bush's plan -- those that endorse subsidizing religious organizations.\nRev. Eliezer Valentin Castanon, a member of the church's General Board of Church and Society, said during a Senate Judiciary Committee, "We believe that Charitable Choice is not the right way to help the needy nor is it the best way to foment healthy church-government relations." He went on to say, "The United Methodist Church cannot support legislation that clearly endorses religious discrimination in the hiring and firing practices in community social service ministries paid by the federal government." Over 850 religious leaders across the country have petitioned Congress to reject Bush's faith-based initiative. \nThey have been successful. While the House approved a bill that gave Bush most of what he wants, there has been considerable opposition in the Senate. Bush, however, is seeking to sidestep Congress by rewriting federal regulations that limit religious subsidizing. On Oct. 3, the Department of Health and Human Services announced that it would distribute $30 million dollars of federal money to 21 charities -- many of them religiously affiliated. One of these 21 charities is Operation Blessing International, headed by televangilist Pat Robertson, who last year along with Jerry Falwell blamed the Sept. 11 attacks on the sins of American citizens. Strangely enough, Robertson was one of the most vehement enemies of Bush's faith-based initiative. Since Oct. 3, though, he's been awfully quiet.\nBush's initiative is in direct opposition to the notions of church-state separation and religious liberty. The government should not be handing out money to religious groups, especially those groups that discriminate in their hiring and firing practices. It is irresponsible for Bush to ignore Congress and pursue his "faith-based" initiative in the face of such widespread opposition. Let's keep federal support for the secular service groups, thereby providing social aid while preserving religious liberty.